This read was intense, suspenseful and impossible to put down. The detailed descriptions of the island really helped to set the tone. I loved the unexpected twists towards the end.

Devils Island by John Yunker and Midge Raymond is a suspenseful wilderness thriller set on Marbury Island in Tasmania, based on a real place. The twists and atmosphere kept me glued to the pages.

After an emotional experience while working with Tasmanian devils at a rescue and rehabilitation center, Kerry decided a change was in order. As she wished to keep enveloped by nature, she decided to become a naturalist guide. Amongst the guests were two American college friends and two Australian couples as well as a fellow guide. They enjoyed excellent food, tenting and adventuring but the mood shifted to suspicion when a guest went missing. But that wasn't all. Secrets galore came right and left.

Other than the beautiful writing, setting and gripping storyline, the information about Tasmanian devils thankfully upended my cursory knowledge of their reputation and taught me a great deal. In fact, it prompted me to do further research.

Some characters were quite juvenile at times but interesting nonetheless. I did guess part of the reveal but there were also surprises. I always enjoy survival stories, especially set during storms and darkness, so this was my wheelhouse. It made me want to grab the tent and venture out!

My sincere thank you to Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this enthralling novel.

I did enjoy this book but I feel like it just wasn’t for me personally. I am glad that I gave it a try. The book was interesting. I am glad that I had the opportunity to read it. It wasn’t a favorite for me and it was out of my comfort zone. The book was written very well and I did like it. I’m rating this book a 3 stars and I will try out more books from the author in the future.

“Maybe loyalty between friends is easier than loyalty between lovers.”

Isolated island, raging storm, and secrets amongst a group of “strangers”? YES, PLEASE! This book had all the ingredients to my idea of the best kind of thriller recipe 🤌🏻

Two old friends and two pairs of couples join tour guides on a remote island for what was supposed to be an exciting weekend of hiking, yummy food and drinks, and exotic animal sightings. But, when one guest goes missing, cell service is already practically nonexistent, and a massive storm kills any chance of help arriving from the mainland, secrets arise and all hell breaks loose.

I had so much fun reading this book. I really didn’t want to put it down and every twist had me gasping and muttering to myself (which would make my husband ask “what??” and I would reply simply “book” 😂). I had guesses here and there about what the outcome would be. In some ways I was right, but I also was very surprised and wrong in others. Not only was it exciting, but there was also the subplot that spoke of the Tasmanian Devils species that was heartbreaking and fascinating. I loved the inclusion of this to raise awareness of their suffering and near extinction.

If you enjoy a thriller with an Australian setting, dual POV, isolation, a group of strangers with secrets, plot twists, whodunnit, deception, and overcoming emotional trauma for the FMC’s, then I highly recommend Devils Island!

Thank you to Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ✍🏻

Yes it's another locked island mystery/horror story but it's elevated by the fact that it's set in Tasmania. I appreciated the chance to learn about Tasmanian devils and the focus on the challenge of wildlife conservation. The mystery is pretty good too. Thanks to netgalley for the ArC. A good read.

Rating: 3.75/5 ⭐

Devils Island follows a group of tourists and their guides to Marbury Island, where after one guest disappears and another turns up dead in the midst of a big storm, the rest have to figure out who is responsible and how to survive through the end of the trip...

First off - I loved the setting of Marbury Island (a fictional version of Maria Island) and the history we're taught of the Tasmanian Devils. This book touches a lot on the complexities of wildlife conservation and I found myself googling a lot about the devils and already extinct tigers.
But the twists - they definitely kept coming and a couple felt like they came way out of left field and weren't completely necessary, almost a bit of a "this again?". The alternating POV in the book gives a lot of information that we would have been missing if it was just from one character, and some of the revelations at the end of the book from a surprise new POV show that while the characters are well defined, very few of them are even likeable!

This was a good suspenseful read that kept me intrigued until the end - Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Devils Island by mitch Raymond and John Yonker, in the book we follow Brooke who got a surprise invitation to reunite with her friend Jane who she hasn’t seen in five years and Jane wants to do it while visiting devils island. It’s actually an island where they re-introduced healthy Tasmanian devils so as not to allow them around the devils on the main island who are suffering from some sort of tumor disfiguring disease (that just broke my heart.) they also have wombats and other animals on the island but twice a year allow visitors to have a Glamping trip in the jungle amongst the wildlife. Carrie is the head guide on the trip despite the fact it is only her second time in the jungle on the island and the first time ended the day before in a tragedy. Carrie has dedicated her life to helping animals but since working at the local clinic she really has a special affinity for Tasmanian devils almost too much of an affinity. There’s two Australian couples Jane and Brooke all going on the trip with the emergency tour guide or Brian who usually just drive the van for the Safari before Australians have known each other forever but the two Americans Jane and Brooke are strangers or at least they are supposed to be. At first Brooke was happy to be there but once she remembered what her friend Jane was like she knew the trip wasn’t going to end well but would it in with all of them alive? This book was pretty good I mean if you like isolated location stories even though they did have contact with the outside world because a park ranger lived on the other side of the island but I digress this is a better story than most although some of the writing was a little wonky and I do think there was too much over describing but having said that if you’re in it for the entertainment you’ll definitely be entertained I really liked the story and could’ve done without all the backstory but as I said it’s still entertaining and I wasn’t mad I read it I actually liked it more than I didn’t nt. It’s a book I definitely recommend to those who like isolated location horror stories. I can’t believe I’m forgetting about the big twist that was absolutely shocking to me… So yeah read it you’ll probably like it as well.#NetGalley, #OceanviewPublishing, #MitchRaymond, #JohnYonker, #DevilsIsland,

Devils Island starts off with six individuals arriving to a remote island for a getaway vacation that just so happens to also be a fantastic place to reintroduce endangered Tasmanian devils in an environment that will help save them to flourish for generations to come. What starts out as a vacation to get away for the group, turns in to a nightmare they all want to escape from, from the storm that comes as well as humans mixed in an environment that no one could predict. What happens next is so crazy that you have to dive in and find out for yourself what unfolds. Crazy and yet mysteriously fantastic read!!
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

I love any book set in the wilds of Tasmania. There's something dark and mysterious about the Tasmanian wilderness that is captured in this book.

The story and mystery kept my attention but I struggled to connect with many of the characters.

"Devil's Island" by John Bunker immerses readers in a thrilling narrative set on a remote Pacific island where reality blurs with myth. The story follows marine biologist Kate Beckett, who ventures to Devil's Island to study its unique ecosystem. However, she soon finds herself entangled in a web of mysteries involving strange occurrences and eerie legends surrounding the island's past. As Kate delves deeper into its secrets, she uncovers hidden agendas and perilous truths that challenge her understanding of science and humanity. Bunker skillfully blends suspense with ecological themes, creating a gripping tale that explores the darker side of isolation and the limits of human knowledge. With vivid descriptions and well-crafted characters, "Devil's Island" captivates from start to finish, offering a thrilling journey into the unknown where danger lurks beneath the surface of paradise.
Many thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Suspenseful and full of twists, but also heartbreaking, this story is set in an amazing place that I, for one, would love to visit. Brooke travels to a remote island in Tasmania to reconnect with her oldest friend, Jane. They are part of a select group of tourists granted the opportunity to spend time in a natural reserve where some of the few remaining Tasmanian Devils thrive. Kerry is one of their guides, with little experience in the tourism industry but a ferocious love for the Devils. Pretty soon things start going wrong and, stranded by a storm, one of the guest disappears. The most likely culprits are the Devils, which worries Kerry immensely. All the characters were unpredictable and, honestly, not very likable. I was rooting for them anyway. The descriptions of the island are accomplished and, depending on the context, either beautiful or creepy. But it was Kerry who stole my heart. I’ve been lucky enough not to have been depressed much but, the one time I couldn’t get out of bed, it was for the same reason as Kerry. You may think that other people have better reasons but the fact that it happened to me made it resonate with me. Lastly, I love all the information about the animals who inhabit the island, especially the Devils. I really enjoyed it.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Oceanview Publishing.

I couldn’t get into the story just as I thought. Not disappointed but need more depth, I think. I can't remember when was the last time when I read a book in which the whole plot was 100% equal to what was written in the blurb and nothing more. There was no surprise there, no resolution to any of the plot threads and the whole story was blatantly predictable and painfully dull.

There are more than a few twists in this book. I enjoyed being surprised.

I want to thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read, enjoy and review.

I love getting the opportunity to read a book about a place I am visiting and I was lucky enough to read Devils Island before visiting Tasmania earlier this year.
I really enjoyed the mystery and storyline, but was not a fan of any of the characters - which I think only added to the story for me. I found the extensive descriptions of the flora and fauna and the environment great as it made me feel like I was right there in the story with the characters. The plot was definitely not predictable and I couldn't wait to find out the ending!
Will definitely be recommending this book to friends, especially anyone travelling to Tasmania.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Three stars.
So where do I begin with this book. It definitely has an interesting premise. The idea of what it is about hooked me into it straight away. Unfortunately the actual execution wasn't quite as good as I was expecting. The first problem I has was that I didn't enjoy all the multiple POV's from each character. Some were definitely more interesting than others and I found myself skimming certain character's POV's after awhile. I enjoyed reading about the good old Tasmanian Devil, something that I know a little about, but not a lot. Perhaps skimming (when I skim it is more like speed reading, I take less in but still most of the words) made me less interested in what was happening to the characters in the story? I don't know for sure. This book didn't hold my attention very well, but I still read it to the end to give it a fair shot. I think that there are people out there that will really enjoy this, it just wasn't me this time unfortunately.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The cover of this drew me in & I thought it had an interesting concept, but it just didn't deliver for me, unfortunately.

I found the main characters so bland and boring and didn't particularly like either of them, to be honest. The theatre theme to the story I didn't like, and the whole plot just got so far-fetched that I couldn't take it seriously by the end.

I did manage to finish it, and I enjoyed learning more about the devils. Kerry, the tour guides POVs I probably enjoyed the most and was the only character I could tolerate. For that reason, it gets 2 stars instead of 1.

A remote, uninhabited island off the coast of Tasmania is full of native wildlife. It is also home to relocated heathy Tasmanian Devils, carnivorous marsupials whose population has been decimated by disease. And it is a site for ecotourism. A group led by nature loving Kerry with Bryan as assistant has brought six people to the island: birdwatcher Ian and wife Margaret, film director Malcom and wife and author Charlotte, and Jane and her once best friend Brooke. Brooke is newly separated and has accepted Jane’s offer of this trip as a way to repair their friendship. All does not go as planned. On the first night, there is a fierce storm and Jane goes missing. Only Brooke knows there are people on the island who would be relieved if Jane were never found. The group plans to continue their trip until, hours later, there is another trip. Alliances are made and survival becomes the goal.

Narrated by both Brooke and Kerry, Devils Island will quickly pull you in. I loved the descriptions of the Tasmanian Devils and their behavior, the rare birds, the wallabies and more.
A complex plot unrolls slowly until a conclusion you won’t see coming. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Oceanview Publishing, John Yunker and Midge Raymond for this ARC.

Leider kann ich hierzu kein Feedback geben, da die Zeit zum herunterladen des Titels und lesen nicht gereicht hat.

Devils Island is home to abundant wildlife, making it the ideal place to reintroduce endangered Tasmanian devils. Working to rescue, rehabilitate, and release devils has been Kerry' s job and passion for years, but a new opportunity to work as a naturalist guide for a tour company offers her a respite from the emotionally grueling task of trying to save an endangered species.

A little boring and predictable, but otherwise fine.

Devil's Island by John Yunker is a riveting exploration of human resilience and the enduring power of hope in the face of adversity. Set against the haunting backdrop of the infamous penal colony, Yunker masterfully crafts a tale that delves deep into the complexities of human nature and the quest for redemption. Through richly drawn characters and vivid descriptions, the author brings to life the harsh realities of life on Devil's Island, where survival is a daily struggle and every decision carries weighty consequences. As the story unfolds, readers are drawn into a gripping narrative filled with suspense, intrigue, and unexpected twists. Yunker's prose is both lyrical and poignant, capturing the essence of a bygone era with exquisite detail. Devil's Island is a captivating read that will stay with readers long after the final page is turned, reminding us of the enduring power of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable hardship.